Posted Thursday June 6, 2024
What is Ménière’s disease?
Ménière’s disease is a chronic ear condition that impacts balance and hearing within the ear. Whilst the symptoms vary greatly from person to person, they typically include:
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Tinnitus
- Hearing loss
- Fullness or pressure in the ear
Ménière’s disease can be diagnosed by an audiologist or ENT (ear, nose, throat) specialist.
Treatments for Ménière’s disease
Whilst there’s no cure for Ménière’s disease, treatments can help reduce the frequency and severity of vertigo episodes, prevent hearing loss and improve quality of life.
- Diet and lifestyle changes, including reducing salt and caffeine intake
- Medication, such as anti-vertigo drugs
- Vestibular rehabilitation, which is a type of physical therapy that helps improve balance and reduces the frequency of vertigo episodes
- Surgery, in severe cases
Further help may be on the way
In the first phase of the groundbreaking Australian trial, ten adults, aged 18-85 years were given a single injection of the steroid, dexamethasone, into the ear’s round window membrane.
Three months after receiving the treatment, 70% of the triallists were no longer having “definitive vertigo days” (defined as any day with a vertigo attack lasting 20 minutes or longer). The patients in the trial continue to be assessed for the six months following.
The trial is now being extended throughout Australia, before a third phase, trialing internationally.
The trial used SPT-2101, a sustained-release steroid formulation for the treatment of Meniere’s and is the lead programme of US-based hearing therapeutics start-up, Spiral Therapeutics.
If some of these symptoms sound familiar, book a consultation appointment with one of our audiologists on 0800 547 836.
You can read more about this study, “World first Australian trial finds gel steroid injection reduces vertigo in Ménière’s disease” at this LINK
And more about Ménière’s disease at this LINK
